Brooke Stratton breaks Australian long jump record at Perth Track Classic

Brooke Stratton has soared into medal contention in an Olympic year after smashing the Australian women's long jump record at the Perth Track Classic.

The 22-year-old set the new mark of 7.05m on Saturday night, bettering the previous best of 7m set by Bronwyn Thompson in 2002.

Stratton's jump would have been good enough to win bronze at both the London 2012 Olympic Games and last year's world championships and was 20cm better than the gold medal-winning effort at the 2014 world indoors.

The timing could hardly have been better, with Stratton about to head to Portland, Oregon as part of the eight-member Australian team for the 2016 world indoors.

"I had originally thought I would be going to the indoors just looking to gain a bit more experience leading into Rio (2016 Olympic Games) but now, after jumping 6.94 a couple of weeks ago and now the 7.05m, I'm definitely well within the mix over there," Stratton said.

"I don't want to put too much pressure on myself but hopefully I can come away with a medal if I get a good jump in.

"It's pretty crazy - after coming away with 14th place at the world athletics championships I thought I had a fair way to go to be up there.

"But now, after jumping the 7.05 and thinking I could potentially medal at the world indoors and at Rio, it's a massive confidence booster."

Rio medal hope?

Brooke Stratton jumped 7.05m in Perth. How would that jump have ranked at the London 2012 games?

Brittney Reese (USA) - 7.12m

Yelena Sokolova (RUS) - 7.07m

Janay DeLoach (USA) - 6.89m

Ineta Radevica (LAT) - 6.88m

Anna Nazarova (RUS) - 6.77m

The March 17-20 championships in Portland will be the first time Stratton has ever competed indoors.

The Victorian smashed the national record with her second jump in Perth with the aid of a legal 2m tailwind.

"I knew the jump was there, I just had to get it all right," Stratton said.